Yes, and you don't want to know the pain it gave me. In the end I got him to burst the abscess and even thinking about it makes me break into a cold sweat. Your dentist should be taking X-rays of the affected area so that he/she can determine the underlying cause and then telling you what needs to be done. Sometimes the problem can be hard to spot or if you are very unlucky it could be that the work is quite tricky and the dentist either can't be bothered or doesn't fancy doing it or hasn't got the confidence to do it. Either way, bad news for you. I'd question him/her closely and see if you can get any clues as to why it isn't being sorted. Perhaps it's time to find another dentist or go to a dental hospital (as a last resort). You don't want to be taking antibiotics all the time as you'll build up a resistance. You are taking them as instructed aren't you?

Yes, and you don't want to know the pain it gave me. In the end I got him to burst the abscess and even thinking about it makes me break into a cold sweat. Your dentist should be taking X-rays of the affected area so that he/she can determine the underlying cause and then telling you what needs to be done. Sometimes the problem can be hard to spot or if you are very unlucky it could be that the work is quite tricky and the dentist either can't be bothered or doesn't fancy doing it or hasn't got the confidence to do it. Either way, bad news for you. I'd question him/her closely and see if you can get any clues as to why it isn't being sorted. Perhaps it's time to find another dentist or go to a dental hospital (as a last resort). You don't want to be taking antibiotics all the time as you'll build up a resistance. You are taking them as instructed aren't you?

Yip, taking them as directed.

I think I am building up a resistence. I've had anti biotics a lot because of eczema.

Hi,
You really need to work on this abscess locally as well as systemically.
Mix half a teacup of boiled water with a good tablespoon of table salt. Stir to dissolve and allow it to cool till it's just warm.
Take a mouthful and gently allow it to bathe the abscess area. Swish a little and spit out.
Take another mouthful and tilt your head so you bathe the abscess for a couple of minutes, swish a little if it doesn't hurt.
Spit out and rinse with fresh water. (Don't swallow the salt water).
Do 2 or 3 times a day. Not only is the salt a natural disinfectant, in a strong solution it also draws the pus/swelling from the abscess.
I'd also recommend buying some Corsodyl, an oral antibacterial, and swish with this a couple of times a day too.
Hopefully this should help clear out all the rubbish and give the antibiotics better chance to work.

An infection that will not heal with antibiotics, then I would get your blood sugar level checked for diabetes, it will take a few seconds and do no harm. Some chemists like Lloyds Pharmacies do them free.

I would certainly see your doctor anyway as they can prescribe different or stronger anti-biotics.

Hi,
You really need to work on this abscess locally as well as systemically.
Mix half a teacup of boiled water with a good tablespoon of table salt. Stir to dissolve and allow it to cool till it's just warm.
Take a mouthful and gently allow it to bathe the abscess area. Swish a little and spit out.
Take another mouthful and tilt your head so you bathe the abscess for a couple of minutes, swish a little if it doesn't hurt.
Spit out and rinse with fresh water. (Don't swallow the salt water).
Do 2 or 3 times a day. Not only is the salt a natural disinfectant, in a strong solution it also draws the pus/swelling from the abscess.
I'd also recommend buying some Corsodyl, an oral antibacterial, and swish with this a couple of times a day too.
Hopefully this should help clear out all the rubbish and give the antibiotics better chance to work.

I would certainly see your doctor anyway as they can prescribe different or stronger anti-biotics.

Your dentist is restricted on what antibiotics he can prescribe. You may have already built up resistance to the antibiotic you've been using. See your doctor who can prescribe an alternative and be extra careful about your oral hygiene - mouthwash with salty water 3 to 4 times a day, no **** and no alcohol.

It's a popular myth that you always need antibiotics for an abscess. If it really is an abscess, you need the tooth extracting or a root canal treatment.

Why is your dentist just throwing antibiotics at you and not doing any actual treatment?

Do YOU know a dentist who will take out a tooth with an abcsess under it, they always clear up the infection first. It can be done without an antibiotic but the pus must be trained first and then an anti-biotic is used to stop the infection spreading. I am surprised this dentist has not done further treatment or referred the patient to a doctor

Do YOU know a dentist who will take out a tooth with an abcsess under it, they always clear up the infection first.

Yes. 9 times out of 10 a dentist can take a tooth out with an abscess underneith it. If the patient has such an infection that the anaesthetic would not work properly, or there could be other complications then they wouldn't. Sometimes if a patient has an emergency appointment they give antibiotics so they can get them back for a longer appointment for the extraction, it really depends on the dentist. (I am a Dental Nurse, btw)

There is also no reason that a dentist would refer on to a doctor, as anything mouth related that a GP sees will usually get referred back to a dentist, as they are specialists in this area and GPs are not.

OP, I'm not sure why you have just had antibiotics and no treatment (either root canal treatment or an extraction) as even if it clears up this time, the infection will return until you get it treated. I would go back to your dentist.

My mates gf works as a consultant in A&E. When i was complaining about the discomfort from an abscess (post root canal) that hadn't gone, she told me to go through to the kitchen so she could have a look at it in the daylight. Boyfriend following.

Next thing she gots my face in a pincer grasp, her lips clamped on to mine and crushed the abscess through the cheek.

It was the most horrible creeking sound, then my mouth was filled with pus and blood, as was hers. We were both spitting into the sink.

I've had a few horrible experiences with abscesses in recent years. I had one on my lower jaw that swelled up so much I couldn't talk properly - then it burst. YUK the taste. The tooth where the problem was then extracted.

I then had a recurring abscess in my upper jaw. I had antibiotics a few times, various things done while the abscess was gone(hiding), a trip to A&E when a doctor drained it as it was pressing on my optic nerve and finally had the tooth extracted WHILE the abscess was still "brewing". It didn't matter what treatment my dentist done this bloody abscess kept recurring.

If i have another abscess I will ask the dentist to take the tooth where the problem is out ASAP.